French drain cost in Joplin, MO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $580 – $2,050
- Per linear ft
- $9.70 – $34
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #172
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Joplin area: $580 to $2,050 for 60 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 3% lower than the US figure. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.2).
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Joplin, MO, standard level
$1,000 to $1,600
About $17 to $26.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $750 |
| Labor | $540 | $850 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,000 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Joplin, MO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 47% |
| Labor | $310 | $700 | $1,100 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $580 | $1,300 | $2,050 | 100% |
What is behind the Joplin number
Labor is 53% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Joplin the blended ratio comes out at 1.00.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Joplin is at 94.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $610 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.7: $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a national median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Joplin. The wage table below marks each row.
Joplin: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Joplin. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from short run (30 linear ft) to long run (120 linear ft).
Basic
$580 to $1,150
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,000 to $1,600
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,450 to $2,050
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $290 – $580 | $510 – $800 | $730 – $1,000 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $580 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,050 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,350 | $2,050 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,050 |
The best months for French drain in Joplin
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Joplin Regional Airport (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Joplin are March through June and September through November: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January, February and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 87 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Joplin gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are April, May and June (6.6 inches in May). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 53 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45 | 25 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 50 | 29 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 60 | 37 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 69 | 47 | 5.0 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 56 | 6.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 86 | 65 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 70 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 68 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 82 | 59 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 71 | 48 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 37 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 48 | 29 | 2.6 | Cold |
French drain: what moves the price in Joplin
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
Exterior versus interior
A shallow exterior French drain is $10-$35 per linear foot; an interior basement drain is $40-$85 per foot, or $4,000-$17,000 installed (HomeGuide).
Where the water goes
A sump pump adds $500-$1,800 and a dry well $50-$3,000+. Discharging to a storm drain can mean extra permit fees.
Joplin against nearby metros and the rest of Missouri
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Kansas City is the priciest of the group at $1,350. Fort Smith is the cheapest at $1,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin, MOthis page | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | |
| Fayetteville, AR70 miles | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −10% |
| Springfield, MO75 miles | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −1% |
| Tulsa, OK110 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −6% |
| Fort Smith, AR115 miles | $510 – $1,750 | $1,150 | −13% |
| Kansas City, MO125 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +3% |
| Missouri (statewide) | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | +7% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Joplin ranks #172 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Joplin is 6% below the Missouri figure.
Elsewhere in Missouri
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +19% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +3% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −1% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | +5% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +10% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Joplin against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −11% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −8% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +18% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +19% |
Planning more than one job in Joplin?
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Joplin wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (level) and sod installation lowest (−6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,200 – $13,300 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,750 | −4% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $4,950 | −5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,750 | −3% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,500 – $111,000 | −2% |
Who does the work: Joplin trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Joplin the blend is 1.00.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $23.98 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $29.88 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 58.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $25.58 an hour, 11% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.14 and $36.61 an hour. About 330 work in the metro. That is 37.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Joplin metro, so we used the national median: $23.56 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.15 and $29.52 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $90 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $75. That is a swing of roughly 5.9% to 7.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Joplin has 87,190 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 224th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $19.02 | $23.98 | $29.88 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.14 | $25.58 | $36.61 | $28.78 | 0.89 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.15 | $23.56 | $29.52 | $23.56 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
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French drain in Joplin: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Joplin?
For 60 linear ft, expect $580 to $2,050 in the Joplin area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,000 to $1,600. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Joplin?
About $9.70 to $34 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $35.
+Is French drain cheaper in Joplin or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,200, which is 10% less than Joplin ($1,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Joplin?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $700 out of $1,300. Materials are 47% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Joplin?
$580 to $2,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Joplin?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Joplin area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Joplin expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Missouri?
Joplin is 6% below the Missouri statewide estimate ($1,400 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Missouri; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Joplin?
The BLS median is $23.98 an hour in the Joplin area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.02 to $29.88.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Joplin?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $580 to $1,150 and premium work $1,450 to $2,050. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Joplin?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and September through November. March and November are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
French drain near Joplin
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a French Drain Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 48% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Outdoor Living' category split (44% labor, 48% materials). It is a category average, not a French-drain figure, so the materials line here is a rough one.